Emperor Kogon
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Emperor Kōgon (光厳天皇 Kōgon Tennō) (August 1, 1313[1] – August 5, 1364[2]) was the first emperor to occupy the Northern Court of Japan. He held the throne from October 22, 1331[3] until July 7, 1333[4]. His personal name was Kazuhito (量仁).
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[edit] Genealogy
He was the third son of Emperor Go-Fushimi of the Jimyōin line. His mother was Kōgimon'in Neishi (広義門院寧子). He was adopted by his uncle, Emperor Hanazono.
- Empress: Imperial Princess Yoshiko (懽子内親王) (First daughter of Emperor Go-Daigo)
- Imperial Princess Mitsuko (光子内親王)
- Consort: Imperial Princess Hisako (寿子内親王) (Daughter of Emperor Hanazono)
- Lady-in-waiting: Sanjō Shūshi (三条秀子) Empress Dowager Yōroku (陽禄門院)
- First son: Imperial Prince Okihito (興仁親王) (Emperor Sukō)
- Second son: Imperial Prince Iyahito (弥仁親王) (Emperor Go-Kōgon)
- Imperial Prince Yoshihito (義仁親王)
- Consort: Unknown
- Imperial Prince Sonchō (尊朝親王)
- Egon (恵厳)
[edit] Life
In 1326 (the first year of Genkō), he became Crown Prince to Emperor Go-Daigo of the Daikakuji line. At this time in Japanese history, by decision of the Kamakura shogunate, the throne would alternate between the Daikakuji and Jimyōin lines every ten years. However, Go-Daigo did not comply with this policy.
In 1331, when Go-Daigo's second attempt to overthrow the shogunate became public, the Shogunate seized him, exiled him to Oki island and enthroned Kōgon on October 22. Emperor Go-Daigo escaped Oki in 1333, with the help of Nawa Nagatoshi and his family, and raised an army at Funagami Mountain in Hōki Province (the modern town of Kotoura in Tōhaku District, Tottori Prefecture).
Meanwhile, Ashikaga Takauji (足利 尊氏), the chief general of the Hōjō family, turned against the Hōjō and fought for Emperor Go-Daigo in the hopes of being named shogun. Takauji attacked Hōjō Nakatomi and Hōjō Tokimasu, the Rokuhara Tandai, or chiefs of the Kamakura shogunate in Kyoto. They both fled to the east, but were captured in Ōmi Province. On July 7, 1333, Go-Daigo seized the throne from Emperor Kōgon and attempted to re-established Imperial control in what is referred to as the Kemmu Restoration (1333-1336). Go-Daigo's attempt failed, however, after Ashikaga Takauji turned against him.
In 1336, Takauji installed Kōgon's younger brother on the throne as Emperor Kōmyō. Go-Daigo fled to Yoshino, in Yamato Province and continued to lay proper claim to the throne, establishing what would come to be known as the Southern Court. Kōmyō's court remained in Kyoto and would come to be known as the Northern Dynasty. This marked the beginning of the Northern and Southern Courts Period of Japanese history, which lasted until 1392.
In 1352, taking advantage of a family feud in the Ashikaga clan known as the Kan'ō Disturbance, Emperor Go-Murakami of the Southern Court entered Kyōto, captured it and carried away Kōgon along with Emperor Kōmyō, Emperor Sukō and the Crown Prince. Following this, Kōgon was held under house arrest for the remainder of his life. In his final years, he converted to Zen Buddhism, and died on August 5, 1364.
[edit] Eras of his reign
(Both)
(North)
(South)
- (Continued Genkō)
[edit] Southern Court Rivals
[edit] Notes
- ^ The ninth day of the seventh month of the second year of Shōwa, according to the traditional lunisolar calendar
- ^ The seventh day of the seventh month of the third year of Jōji, according to the traditional lunisolar calendar
- ^ The twentieth day of the ninth month of the third year of Gentoku, according to the traditional lunisolar calendar
- ^ The twenty-fifth day of the fifth month of the second year of Shōkei, according to the traditional lunisolar calendar
| Preceded by Emperor Go-Daigo (Legitimate/Southern Emperor) |
Northern Pretender 1331-1333 |
Succeeded by Emperor Kōmyō |
